The streets were quiet, and Song Ziyu heard every word of Zique's conversation with the man.

"The general has sent many men to search for you in the city these past few days. The lady said you must hide well and never be discovered..."

The man sneered, "Let him come if he wants. What's the difference between a man crippled from the waist down and those lowly eunuchs? Do you think I'm afraid of him?"

Song Ziyu, who was on the other side of the wall, blushed as he listened.

If it weren't for the servant holding him back, he probably would have rushed up and started fighting immediately.

Zi Que covered her mouth and chuckled, then took something out of her sleeve: "These are things that Madam specifically instructed you to give you."

"If it weren't for the sudden flood and the misunderstanding back then, how could Arong have married him!" The man put away his things and sighed, "It's made Arong and I live apart, and it's even difficult for us to see each other."

“Madam is also concerned about you, which is why she arranged for me to take care of you,” Zi Que said. “And the young master, after all, blood is thicker than water.”

The man said, "Of course, but thankfully these awful days are almost over. I reckon that idiot Song Ziyu won't last much longer!"

Zi Que hurriedly said, "Let me take you back to the inn so we can talk in detail. Are you still staying at the Tongda Inn in the west of the city...?"

The man nodded, and the two figures gradually disappeared at the alley entrance.

Song Ziyu walked out, his face grim, and slammed his fist hard against the wall.

In the main courtyard, Gu Yurong and Song Lin were still worrying about taking office.

According to the date on the letter of appointment, Song Lin should report to the Ordnance Bureau tomorrow.

Having exchanged over ten thousand taels of silver for a minor official position, Gu Yurong was truly unable to swallow this insult and wanted to seek an explanation from Minister Pan.

But Song Lin stopped him: "The imperial appointment has already been issued. What's the point of causing trouble now? If you anger the Minister's Mansion, you'll have truly squandered all the favors you've done!"

"Then what can we do? Just accept our fate?"

Gu Yurong was filled with rage.

"With Song Yu's top score in the martial arts exam, he can easily become a sixth-rank military officer. Not to mention that wretched woman from the Xingzhi Academy, who was granted a second-rank imperial title in the spring! How many years would it take you to climb up from the eighth rank to catch up with them?"

She couldn't accept being inferior to Jiang Wan, and she was still hoping that Song Linfei would rise to prominence and be able to get her an official title as soon as possible.

Now... isn't this going to drive her crazy with anger?!

Song Lin was also very unhappy, and could only say, "Perhaps Minister Pan has other plans. For now, I can only go to take up my post and wait until I see him to sound him out."

“But… how could you become a supervisor?” Gu Yurong’s eyes welled up with tears. “How could someone as delicate as you endure such a lowly job?”

“Although the Ordnance Bureau is responsible for manufacturing military equipment, there has been no war in the capital for the past two years. Even if I go there, it will just be a matter of going through the motions and won’t be too tiring,” Song Lin said.

Gu Yurong shook her head and pushed the food on the table aside.

After such an incident, she couldn't eat a thing and left with a sigh.

The next day, she mustered her spirits, packed Song Lin's belongings, and saw him off at the gate of the mansion.

Song Lin entered the Ordnance Bureau, but he had no interest in official duties and always wanted to find an opportunity to meet Minister Pan, but he never had the chance.

Gu Yurong was also inquiring about Sun Shi's whereabouts, hoping to get some information from her.

That day, the personal maid rushed in, flustered.

"How is it? Is there any progress with Madam Sun?" Gu Yurong asked.

The old woman shook her head anxiously and said, "Madam, something terrible has happened! Please take a look at this letter."

When Gu Yurong saw that the signature on the letter was "Bi", she had a bad feeling.

After arriving in the capital, Bi Yuan stayed at the Tongda Inn. The owner of the inn was a distant relative of his and specially arranged a side room in the backyard for him, while also keeping his whereabouts a secret.

In a moment of panic that day, she revealed her cousin's affair to Song Ziyu.

She guessed that Song Ziyu would send people to look for him, but Bi Yuan lived in a secluded and safe place. Sure enough, several days passed and the people from the General's Mansion could not find any trace of him. She gradually felt relieved.

Why did Bi Yuan send her a letter?

To avoid being discovered by the general's mansion, the two kept in touch in secret.

Bi Yuan never acts impulsively unless... something bad has happened.

Gu Yurong read the letter quickly, then turned pale and slumped onto the stool.

When Song Lin returned to the main courtyard that evening, Gu Yurong stood anxiously at the door. When she saw him enter, she greeted him with tears in her eyes.

"Lin'er, something terrible has happened!"

"Your father somehow found the Tongda Inn and brought his men to beat your uncle half to death. They smashed and stole his personal belongings. If the innkeeper hadn't called a doctor for him, he would probably be in grave danger!"

"The boss sent a letter this afternoon saying that your uncle was seriously injured and all his money had been stolen, so he needed emergency help."

Gu Yurong stuffed a package into his hand.

"Go and take a look!"

Song Lin's face was also very ugly. The package contained some loose silver coins, which was the only cash that Gu Yurong could take out at this time.

"I can send money, but I can't go, and you can't show your face either."

He said.

"Why don't you think about how Father found the inn, and how much does Uncle know about your affair? If Father sees you meeting in private, you won't be able to explain yourself!"

Song Lin glanced at the package.

"Moreover, these two taels of silver are enough to cover the cost of the medicine."

"The inn was vandalized, so the owner must be resentful. If we don't appease the people involved, how can he treat my uncle well?"

Gu Yurong was stunned: "Then what should we do?"

All their money went into the Minister's mansion, so where are they going to conjure up more silver now?

Song Lin frowned, feeling a terrible headache, as one unlucky thing after another had happened recently.

"I'll figure out the money problem. You should think about how to deal with your father first."

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